Cubs taking it slow with injuries to trustworthy Ben Zobrist, others

Since becoming a major-league manager, Joe Maddon has learned to listen to "The Mind of Zo," as he describes the candidness of Cubs veteran Ben Zobrist.

"He's going to be very direct," Maddon said of Zobrist, who hopes to return Friday from the disabled list. "He has no other method. It's the most unfiltered mind in history. So listen to him, and he'll tell you exactly what he needs and that's what you do."

Advertisement

Zobrist, who also played for Maddon with the Rays, said he will test his left wrist with some hard swings on Wednesday and then determine if he'll be able to rejoin the team in Miami or perhaps need a brief minor-league rehabilitation assignment.

"I can't tell until I actually swing hard whether I'll be able to do it," said Zobrist, who was 5-for-49 while trying to play through the pain for 2 1/2 weeks. "We're not going to push it at this point."

Zobrist underwent an MRI Monday that showed no abnormalities. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI Friday at Pittsburgh, but it "was a very small tube I couldn't fit in," Zobrist said.

"My ankle dug in the dirt, but I'm doing everything and it feels good," Russell said. "Hopefully I'll be in the lineup Tuesday."

Extra innings: Maddon wore gray shoes Monday night as part of what he described as the Cubs' "20-game trip," a stretch of 17 road dates in 20 games that is interrupted by this three-game home series against the Padres. "I didn't unpack my bag," third baseman Kris Bryant said. "I figure I'll just wear the same clothes I wore on the last road trip." ... Bryant and Heyward are among the leaders in the latest voting for the National League All-Star team.